Gadkari to visit J-K, lauds BRO for assistance

Union Road, Transport, Highways and Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari, who met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh here on Wednesday, said that he would be visiting Jammu and Kashmir within the next three days to review the road connectivity in the flood-ravaged state.

"I will be visiting Jammu and Kashmir in two or three days. I plan to take a meeting of the road officials there and try to start the road connectivity there at the earliest. We are ready to aid the Jammu and Kashmir Government with whatever help they need," Gadkari told mediapersons after the meeting.

"The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has supported us in a great manner. As per the information given to us by the Prime Minister, all the concerned departments should now look after the matter there," he added.

Gadkari further said, "As of now, the National Highway has been damaged in a big way. The state highway along with the district roads has also been damaged. I have ...................................................................................................................informed the officers of my department to temporarily fix these at the earliest."

"We will do some mid-term planning and long-term too to restore the infrastructure of Jammu and Kashmir. As per my information, the chemical needed for the dead animals has been sent through Mumbai," he added.

In continuation of the mammoth task of restoring the connectivity across Jammu and Kashmir after the recent floods in the state, the army engineers, after successfully opening the National highway between Jammu and Srinagar, restored the connectivity between Rajouri and Budhal yesterday by constructing a 180 feet bailey bridge over Ans River at Kot Ranka.

With the completion of this bridge, the army has ensured that relief and rehabilitation support can reach the remotest part of the state. Soldiers of the Indian Army are working day and night to construct a double storey bridge, which shall be the largest bridge to be made by the Indian Army in the Srinagar and Jammu Divisions till date and that too in shortest possible time.

Approximately 10,000 personnel of army engineers and BRO, equipped with an over 400 dozers, excavators and JCBs, besides 300 tippers and dumpers, have restored road links at an over 1000 places damaged by landslides or flash floods, besides reconstruction of various bridges across the state during the last few days.